ACTIVITIES:
NISD: The National Institude for scuba diving in Lebanon
Scuba Diving may not be something you'd associate with Lebanon,
but with 180 miles of coastline; think again.
Many Lebanese have become divers, and diving
has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country.
We should know: we've trained most divers in our dive school
at the Riviera Yacht Club in Beirut. We teach recreational
as well as technical diving. From the thrill of shipwrecks,
sharks and dramatic drop-offs, to the pure pleasure of shallow
reefs and eagle rays encounters, we offer the best diving
opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
So if you are thinking about diving in Lebanon, think about
us.
A Group of NISD Divers
During the civil war in Lebanon (1975 - 1990), organized clubs
had great difficulties operating regularly. Most people were
confined to their half of the city, and could not safely pass
the numerous militia checkpoints. Diving was hazardous, but
some enthusiasts continued diving anyway; and during a lull
in the war, in 1981, they started a school: The National Institute
for Scuba Diving in Lebanon (NISD).
NISD in 1982
It went well for a while, then the fighting erupted again,
more violent than ever. One of the very early divers with
NISD ended up in the recompression chamber as bombs were landing
at sea, near the dive site.
The school reopened its doors for good in 1993 as the war
was finally over. Operating all year round and without any
interruptions, NISD has certified over 1300 divers.
Today, we have eleven instructors, all highly trained, enabling
us to run a very tight operation; and since discipline is
the key to safety, we have an excellent safety record to prove
it.
But fun and adventure are there too. Divers regularly pass
by the dive center and hang out, meet new friends even when
they are not diving.
